Are you a "partner" with your management company, or just a line item on a shareholder report? . I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell, and in this episode of Storage Unlocked, I am joined by Peter Smyth (White Label Storage), Melissa Stiles (Storage Asset Management), and Ronna Siegel (StorQuest) . We tackle the changing landscape of third-party management in an era where Public Storage is buying NSA and StorageMart is making billion-dollar moves in New York . In this episode, I cover: The Scaling Secret: How technology allows private operators to manage hundreds of stores with the precision of a single-site owner . AI Efficiency: Why automating delinquency calls and payment collections is the easiest way to immediately improve your bottom line . The Pricing War: A deep dive into the 1% NOI growth gap between the top REITs and why some pricing strategies create a "death spiral" of churn and bad reviews . Personalization over Kiosks: Why the "10,000 layers" of a REIT can't compete with the personalized communication of a dedicated third-party firm . The Path Forward: Why 2026 search trends and occupancy data suggest the industry is finally turning the corner . Tune in to learn how to weaponize AI and local market expertise to outperform the giants of self-storage. Connect with Thaddeus Campbell (S3 Partners): Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsthadcampbell/ Connect with Peter Smyth (White Label Storage): Email: [email protected] LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-smyth-15142484/ Connect with Melissa Stiles (Storage Asset Management): Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissastiles/ Connect with Ronna Siegel (StorQuest/William Warren Group): Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rona-siegel-8969313/ This Episode was brought to you by: https://pbbrown.com/ https://s3.partners

I am breaking down a monumental week where the self-storage industry took center stage in the Wall Street Journal . From the "tipping point" of municipal pushback to the surprising double-digit surge in storage REIT stocks, I dive into the data that shows why this asset class is defying broader economic trends . I also have a massive announcement for the S3 Partners community. After 10 months of development, Barry Sherman and I are officially launching The Round Table, a series of curated, high-level peer groups designed to help developers, owners, and architects level up their game through real-world feedback .

The Wall Street Journal Feature: I analyze the "irony" of municipalities pushing back on storage while usage hits record highs . Noah Star (Tract IQ) reveals that 12% of Americans now use storage, with Millennials and Gen Z leading the charge at 16% . Legends in the Spotlight: Hear why icons like Maurice Picotta and legal legend Scott Zucker believe that superior design and flexible planning departments are the keys to overcoming modern development hurdles . REIT War Chests: SmartStop announces a $100 million JV with bridge lender AXCS Capital . This brings the total capital raised by REITs for acquisitions and lending to $1.7 billion in less than a year . The Stock Market Surge: I look at why NSA is up 54%, and Public Storage is up 19% year-to-date, despite a "bad news" backdrop in the housing market . Housing Market Reality Check: Median home prices are up over $5,000, and with mortgage rates ticking back to 6.37%, the cost of a 30-year loan has jumped by $31,000 for the average buyer . Introducing The Round Table: I reveal the structure of our new mastermind groups—nine members, once-a-month curated meetings, and a focus on solving the specific challenges of storage and flex-industrial operators .

Connect with Thaddeus Campbell (S3 Partners):Email: [email protected] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsthadcampbell/

This Episode was brought to you by:https://pbbrown.com/

I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell, and in this episode of Storage Unlocked, I am joined by a "superhero lineup": Barry Sherman (S3 Partners), Wayne Woolsey (Kiwi II Steel), and Cody Payne (Flex Parks USA). We pull back the curtain on an asset class that is currently outperforming storage in development returns and attracting massive attention from both private equity and local entrepreneurs .

In this episode, we cover:

The "Adolescent" Asset Class: Why Small Bay Flex has a "long way to go" and how to capitalize on the current supply-demand imbalance . Tenant Diversification: How "Answer Engine Optimization" and social media have allowed retail-style tenants to move into cheaper flex space . Critical Design Choices: Why unit flexibility and separation of utilities are vital for re-tenanting without blowing your budget on TI . The Cost of Verticality: Understanding how wind loads and larger door guides add to your steel costs as you grow from 16ft to 20ft clear height . Site Selection Savvy: Why you should look for "roofs and red dirt"—targeting sites across from HOA communities with restrictive parking rules .

Tune in to find out why the "Speedboat" flexibility of Small Bay Flex is making it the smartest play in the 2026 commercial real estate market. Connect with Thaddeus Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsthadcampbell/ [email protected] Connect with Barry Sherman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-s-27b024a/ [email protected] Connect with Wayne Woolsey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waynewoolsey/ [email protected] Connect with Cody Payne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codypayne/ [email protected] This episode was brought to you by: https://pbbrown.com/

Has the self-storage market finally found its bottom?

I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell, and in this episode of Storage Unlocked, I break down Public Storage's latest $500 million capital raise and what it signals for their aggressive 2026 expansion plans . I also explore a pivotal moment in industry history: 10 Federal hiring a Chief AI Officer out of Nvidia to build a foundation for the next era of storage operations .

In this episode, I cover:

The Development pullback: I am joined by Austin McLeod to discuss why rising rates and slow movement have finally throttled the ground-up development frenzy . Institutional Aggression: How REITs have raised over $1.7 billion recently for the specific purpose of devouring market share . Foundational AI: Why Christopher Taylor and Andrew Kapranos believe the "bolt-on" tech strategy is destined for failure . Community & Faith: Jane Sauls shares an inspirational story of resilience and faith-driven leadership. Tune in for the news and data you need to stay ahead of the massive consolidation currently reshaping our asset class. Connect with Thaddeus: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsthadcampbell/ This episode was brought to you by: https://pbbrown.com/

In this episode of Storage Unlocked, I am joined by guest host Tim Kane (co-founder of StorPro). We break down a year that has already seen a $10.5 billion merger and multiple nine-figure acquisitions, leaving independent operators wondering how to survive the institutional era.

In this episode, I cover:

The "Professional Storage" Pivot: Tim explains why he shifted from traditional storage to StorPro, a B2B model focused on contractors and luxury hobbyists with 0% delinquency. Macro Stability: Why 0% home price growth and steady interest rates are finally pushing home buyers and renters off the sidelines after three years of waiting . Efficient Development: The blueprint for 90,000+ sq ft facilities that use simple construction to keep hard costs low while providing high-end amenities like member clubhouses. The "Gestalt" Advantage: Why you should never be a "one-man band" in entrepreneurship and the power of the Scott Myers Mastermind community. Faith in Business: A special segment with Scott Myers on leading with faith as we head into Easter weekend.

In this episode of Storage Unlocked, I bring together Shannon Charbonneau (XPS Solutions), Adam Wagner (Anytime Property Storage Management), and Gabriel Luna (Durell's Mini Storage) to look at the "boots on the ground" reality of running facilities in 2026 . We discuss the massive wave of REIT consolidation and how small-to-medium operators can actually use technology to beat the giants at their own game .

In this episode, we cover:

The Human Element: Why technology should supplement, not replace, the "concierge level" service that makes self-storage a people-centric business . The Cost of Silence: Shannon breaks down why every missed phone call is a potential $95 marketing loss and a missed opportunity for a long-term tenant . Tech Debt vs. Innovation: Why having "tech debt" from the mid-2010s might actually put older operators at a disadvantage compared to those starting fresh with AI-native tools today . Legislative Threats: Why price-cap proposals in states like New York are a wake-up call for every owner in the country to get involved in their local associations . Marketing with AI: Gabriel explains why you don't need a massive marketing budget if you have the "courage to pioneer" and experiment with the data you already own. Tune in to learn how to modernize your operations without losing the personal touch that builds long-term value. This episode was brought to you by: https://pbbrown.com/

I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell, and in this episode of Storage Unlocked, I dive into the shocking $10.5 billion merger between Public Storage and National Storage Affiliates . I break down the financing that keeps the PSA balance sheet clean and what this means for the "PS 4.0" digital-first era .

In this episode, I also cover:

Small Bay Mania: I share my takeaways from the Small Bay Summit in Atlanta, where interest in flex industrial has tripled in just a few months The Private REIT Advantage: Why StorageMart Manhattan Mini Storage has outpaced the public REITs in NOI growth for 12 straight quarters Support Local SSAs: Why it is critical to attend regional events like the Northeast Storage Expo to fight back against proposed rent-cap legislation . Faith & Service: Adam Wagner discusses his unique calling to integrate faith into property management . Tune in for the numbers, the deals, and the community updates that are redefining self-storage and flex industrial in 2026. Connect with Thaddeus Campbell (S3 Partners): [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsthadcampbell/ This episode was brought to you by: https://www.pbbrown.com

Are we all going to be replaced by robots by 2030? I am your host, Thaddeus Campbell, and in this episode of Storage Unlocked, I am joined by Maggie Bode (Unity AI), Jacob Pandl (NodaFi), and Tyler Sellars (Cactus AI) to discuss the "leapfrog moment" in self-storage technology . We are moving away from the era of spreadsheets and paper walkthroughs into a world where AI agents answer the phones and machine learning automates our facility audits.

In this episode, we cover:

Underwriting Automation: How Cactus AI is allowing analysts to use their own proprietary "IP" to generate pro formas in a fraction of the traditional time . Operational Efficiency: Jacob Pandl explains that NodaFi's goal is to handle the "machine work" so site managers can spend their time coaching teams and building tenant relationships.

Virtual Sales Agents: Maggie Bode breaks down why AI agents like "Maya" are providing higher customer service by giving instant answers to gate codes and balance inquiries .

Market Data: A look at how Tract IQ's newest CMBS data is finally giving operators a clear view of true "achieved" rates in their trade areas .

The Hype Cycle: Why "vibe coding" and other buzzwords are cluttering the C-suite, and what actually works on the ground. Connect with Maggie Bode: [email protected] https://getuniti.com Connect with Jacob Pandl: [email protected] https://nodafi.com Connect with Tyler: [email protected] https://trycactus.com This episode was brought to you by: https://pbbrown.com/ https://tractiq.com/tssr

In this episode of Storage Unlocked, I break down the 2025 year-end earnings for the major storage REITs. I discuss why storage stocks are trading at a premium (15x to 18x FFO) compared to other real estate sectors and the massive leadership shift at the top of Public Storage . In this episode, I also cover:

The Murphy Family Mission: I share the story of Decker's Blueprint, a fundraising effort for Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy that is uniting the storage industry . Tract IQ Data Drop: I analyze the "inverse" correlation between population growth and rent—why low-growth markets in the Northeast and Midwest are currently the only ones seeing rate increases .

Acquisition Alive & Well: How the biggest players spent nearly $1 billion each on portfolios and JV buyouts last year .

Faith & Law: Scott Zucker joins me to discuss how his Jewish faith has guided his success as one of the most recognized legal voices in our sector .

Tune in for the data, the strategy, and a story that puts the entire industry into perspective.

Connect with Thaddeus Campbell (S3 Partners):

https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsthadcampbell/ [email protected]

This episode was brought to you by: https://pbbrown.com/

In this very special edition of Storage Unlocked, I am joined by Zachary Dickens (Extra Space), Paul Spittel (Public Storage), and Alex Burnam (StorageMart) . These three firms have transacted on over $25 billion in storage assets in just the last half-decade . In this episode, we cover:

Strategic Evolution: We discuss Public Storage's transition to PS 4.0 and their move to the Dallas-Frisco area to recruit top talent and accelerate growth .

The Manhattan vs. Boroughs Debate: We breakdown StorageMart's massive $1.05 billion portfolio purchase and why they are betting long-term on Brooklyn and Queens .d

The Scale Play: We discuss about Extra Space and the efficiencies gained from the Life Storage merger, and its role as the industry's largest third-party manager .

Policy & Law: A candid look at the New York City DCWP lawsuit and the industry's proactive collaboration with the SSA to protect owner rights .

The Tech Shift: From AI-driven predictive analytics to the rise of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), we discuss what is disrupting storage marketing in the late 2020s . Tune in to hear from the leaders of the industry's three most consequential companies.